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NSC Professor Receives APR Title and Two New Research Awards
October 2015 was quite a month for Nicholson’s Melissa D. Dodd, Ph.D. The Ad/PR assistant professor can now proudly add three more letters to her title, upon successful completion of her voluntary APR accreditation. She also learned that she is to be recognized for two prestigious research awards at the International Public Relations Society of […]
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UCF Zoologist Stars in Smithsonian Documentary
ORLANDO, Nov. 4, 2015 — UCF zoologist William Crampton, Ph.D., braves the Amazon River to uncover the secrets of electric fish as part of a new documentary airing on the Smithsonian Channel on Nov. 9 and 22. Dr. Crampton is a world expert on electric eels and knifefish and has spent years studying the creatures […]
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Crystal Technology Wins Professor Prestigious Award
UCF Department of Chemistry assistant professor, James Harper, Ph.D., recently applied for and received the National Science Foundation (NSF) CAREER award. Awarded for his research on “Developing Accurate Crystallography Without Diffraction.”, this award is the NSF’s most prestigious award supporting junior faculty and will provide funding for a five-year period. This funding will be used to support […]
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Substance Abuse and Parenting: Re-teaching How to Parent
Parents who abuse controlled substances have a higher risk of abusing their children, but research shows they could be educated to be more effective parents. A review paper published online in Nature’s Pediatric Research journal this month indicates that along with treatment for substance abuse, parents can greatly benefit from therapy aimed at redirecting their […]
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Science Café’s Magical Debut
The first Science Café of the semester had a lively atmosphere as it came out of its summer offseason. Hosted by the Office of Research & Commercialization, Graduate Society of Physics Students, the Physics Department and UCF Environmental Health & Safety, this series highlights the exciting research currently being conducted in the College of Sciences. […]
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Sunscreen’s Hidden Hazards
Lathering up with sunscreen may prevent sunburn and protect against cancer, but it is also killing coral reefs around the world. That’s the conclusion of a team of international scientists, which includes UCF associate professor of biological sciences and diving enthusiast John Fauth, Ph.D. The researchers found that oxybenzone, a common UV-filtering compound, is in […]
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Spring 2016 IC CAE Study Abroad Scholarship
The Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence (IC CAE) is offering a study abroad scholarship for spring semester 2016. The IC CAE’s main goal is to prepare students, by enhancing critical skills and knowledge deemed essential by the intelligence community, for careers in national security and intelligence. The Intelligence and National Security Scholarship is a competitive scholarship […]
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UCF Shines at National Physics Conference
UCF was well represented by a number of faculty and students at the American Physical Society (APS) National Mentoring Community & Bridge Program Conference on October 9-11, 2015. Held in Miami, Florida at Florida International University, this conference focused on mentor/mentee relationships, gave guidance on how to build successful bridge programs and let attendees hear […]
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New Faculty Brings GIS Innovation to UCF
Starting this fall, Scott Branting, Ph.D., Timothy Hawthorne Ph.D. and Yingru Li, Ph.D. joined UCF’s GIS cluster. GIS stands for Geographical Information Systems or Geographic Information Science. It is a powerful information system that improves our ability to collect, store, retrieve, manage, analyze, and report information on the earth’s surface, and to integrate those with economic, […]
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UCF Professors Land NASA Grants Focused on Asteroids, Comets, Venus
UCF professors are involved in two potential NASA spacecraft missions that could take flight as early as 2020. The five proposed space missions would study Venus, near-earth objects and a variety of asteroids and comets. Each mission team will receive $3 million and have a year to get their proposals ready for a final round of […]
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Distinguished Speaker Series Revolutionized
The first talk of the 2015-2016 Distinguished Speaker Series was held on September 23rd, at Cevíche Tapas Bar & Restaurant in downtown Orlando. Approximately 70 guests came out to hear Sarah Parcak’s, Ph.D., presentation on “A Digital Revolution: Archeology from Space”. Many UCF faculty, staff, alumni, students, and community members were in attendance, including the Dean of the College […]
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National Award for Substance Abuse Identification Test
Congratulations to 5th year Ph.D. chemistry student David Nash, on receiving the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Graduate Research Fellowship. The NIJ is the research-funding branch of the Department of Justice. Annually, they provide a handful of graduate students a monetary award to conduct research in the social or physical science fields that will help the criminal justice, […]
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2015 College Showcase
On September 19th, the College of Sciences participated in College Showcase 2015 which was an event hosted during Family Weekend 2015. The College of Sciences was among the many participating colleges. The COS showcase included displays by the UCF Department of Physics, UCF Department of Biology, and UCF College of Sciences Academic Services. Other colleges participated, including […]
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Record Year for UCF Marine Turtle Research Group
Green sea turtles have had their highs and their lows. Before being commercially harvested for hundreds of years, green sea turtles used to be a typical sight in the Atlantic, but now they are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in multiple locations across the globe. Even with being one of the first species to have federal regulations protecting them, green […]
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Award Winning Google Glass Research
In 2014, Psychology Ph.D. candidate Ben Sawyer, was the lead researcher and wrote the first peer reviewed study looking at the driving distraction potential of Google Glass. In his study it showed the novel device to be less distracting in some ways than an Android phone, but still dangerous compared to just driving. This summer, […]
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Making a Difference in Uganda
After a semester conducting research as a Fulbright Scholar in Uganda, associate professor Ann Miller, Ph.D. returns to the Nicholson School of Communication this fall. Miller was the recipient of the Fulbright AIDS and AIDS-Related Research Award and spent the 2015 spring semester at her host institution, Uganda Christian University (UCU). There she partnered with UCU […]
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The Politics of Reproductive Rights in Post-Soviet Poland
Associate professor of anthropology, Joanna Mishtal, Ph.D., had her book, The Politics of Morality: The Church, the State and Reproductive Rights in Postsocialist Poland, published and released with Ohio University Press in August. The Politics of Morality is a full-length, single author ethnography based on 21 months of primary data collection in Kraków, Warsaw, and […]
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FTU Alumnus Credits UCF for Strong Chemistry Foundation
Dr. Jeffry Donner, ’77, remembers UCF much differently than it is today. Dr. Donner graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from UCF when it was Florida Technological University. Dr. Donner continued to credit UCF throughout his education and career with giving him a strong foundation in chemistry and science. Now retired in Florida’s Treasure […]
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Chemistry Alumna Found Her Inspiration at UCF
Tamra Legron-Rodriguez, ’08, ’13, says her time in the UCF Chemistry Department inspired her to strive to be the best teacher she could be. Dr. Legron-Rodriguez graduated with her bachelor’s in forensic science and then her doctorate in materials chemistry from UCF. As a two-time UCF chemistry graduate, she spent a lot of her time […]
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Preparing the Researchers of Tomorrow
This summer, the UCF College of Graduate Studies initiated the “Preparing Future Researchers” program to offer seven international undergraduate students an opportunity to gain networking and researching experience. The students are each paired with a UCF faculty member in their discipline to conduct research on a topic of mutual interest. For about 40 hours a […]
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UCF Research and Innovation Recognized at International Conference
Qun “Treen” Huo, Ph.D. will be recognized for her groundbreaking technology and will present her innovation at the 2015 TechConnect World Innovation Conference from June 14 – 17 in Washington, D.C. Her discovery, along with two others from UCF, are among the top 20 percent of submittals selected to receive TechConnect Innovation Awards. The annual event is […]
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New Citrus Treatment Being Tested
By: Susan Jacobson, Orlando Sentinel Swadeshmukul Santra, Ph.D., an associate professor of chemistry who works in UCF’s NanoScience Technology Center, invented a zinc-based liquid that is being considered as a treatment for deadly citrus greening. Santra invented Zinkicide in 2013. The bactericide, composed of zinc and undisclosed other ingredients, is being sprayed on citrus trees in […]
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UCF Undergraduate Researchers Go International
More than 30 UCF student researchers will participate in research programs around the world this summer. The students will receive stipends, lodging and often travel funding as compensation for their work in the research programs. “Being an undergraduate researcher has opened doors for me that I did not even know existed,” said Samantha Mensah, a […]
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Captivated by Disgust
Recent research found that people exposed to core disgusts, such as blood, guts and body products, were more attentive to disgusting content even though it provoked negative reactions. Bridget Rubenking, Ph.D., associate professor of radio-television at the University of Central Florida, and Annie Lang, Ph.D., distinguished professor in the department of telecommunications at Indiana University, […]
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Striking Gold with New Test for Cancer
A test that costs less than a $1 and yields results in minutes has been shown in newly published studies to be more sensitive and more exact than the current standard test for early-stage prostate cancer. The simple test developed by chemistry professor Dr. Qun “Treen” Huo holds the promise of earlier detection of one of the […]
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Outstanding AlumKnight Has Chemistry with UCF
Jennifer McKinley, ’94, ’96, says the connections she made while in the UCF chemistry program have been vital to her career. Today, McKinley has an impressive résumé to say the least. Between being CFO of a manufacturing and R&D firm, to co-founder and business owner at NanoSpective Inc., she also manages to find time in […]
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Leave No Bone Unturned
In January, Dr. John Schultz, Associate Professor, Associate Chair and Undergraduate Coordinator of the Anthropology department, will be traveling to Trinidad for two weeks to examine a set of bones discovered during an excavation. According to Trinidad Express Newspapers, a skull in a pot, six complete human skeletons and 36 incomplete skeletons were found during the […]
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Chemistry Alumnus’ Enthusiasm for Research Began at UCF
Dr. Allyn Brice, ’04, discovered his infatuation with research in the UCF Chemistry Department. During his last three years at UCF, Dr. Brice spent most of his time doing research in polymer synthesis with the Chemistry Department chair, Dr. Kevin Belfield. Dr. Brice’s research on organic synthesis was even included in one of Dr. Belfield’s […]
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Showcasing the Sciences
This weekend, as a part of Family Weekend, the UCF College of Sciences is participating in the 2014 College Showcase. On Sept. 20, from noon – 2 p.m. the College of Sciences will be showcasing their Psychology Department. On display will be their research areas in which high technology is used to help a variety […]
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New Organism Discovered by UCF Student
While many students spent their summer break enjoying the beach, University of Central Florida junior Grace Avecilla helped discover a new organism while interning at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. Getting a chance to culture single-celled protists, a diverse set of microorganism, was the highlight of the internship, made possible […]